GO DEVIL FISHING. 



and we soon had the satisfaction to see him rise to 

 within a few feet of the top, his proximity being 

 shown by the staff of the harpoon, still fixed in its 

 socket, and standing up perpendicularly from his 

 back! The thunder-cloud had now passed away, 

 the wind had fallen, the sea had become smooth, 

 and mounting the forecastle, which now afforded 

 secure footing, I pitched my lance with all my force 

 and saw it planted alongside of the harpoon, the two 

 staves bristling up from the back of the fish, while 

 a gush of blood from the new wound crimsoned the 

 surface of the sea. Away he dashed, and the stout 

 cord that held the lance snapped like a pack-thread, 

 leaving the iron fixed in his body, while the staff, 

 broken in fragments, floated to the surface. By the 

 same effort, the staff of the harpoon is disengaged, 

 floats, and is taken on board. 



Again the fish bears away for the sea, and we 

 meet him by the same resistance of the oars. But 

 he has now been taught that danger awaits him at 

 the surface : he shuns it, and plunges downward for 

 the bottom. It comes to a dead pull ; and we have 

 to choose between the risk of drawing out the har- 

 poon, or being carried out to sea. "We take the 

 former, and having no efficient lance left to annoy 

 him, determine, if the opportunity offers, to make 

 use of the gun. After a long effort, we succeed in 



